Wash ing-machine



(No Model.) I W. A.- WALLINGPORD.

WASHING MACHINE.

Patented July 20, 1897.

Wiigesszzs UNTTE STATES PATENT OFFICE.

\VILLIAM A. \VALLINGFORD, OF BLOOMINGTON, INDIANA.

WASHING-MACHINE.

SYECIFIGATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 586,580, dated July 20, 1897.

Application filed March 81, 1897. Serial No. 630,135. We model To all whom it may concern.-

.Be it known that LWILLIAM ATWALLING- FORD, a citizen of the United States, residing at Bloomington, in the county of Monroe and State of Indiana, have invented a new and useful fishing-Machine, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to improvements in washing-machines.

The object of the present invention is to improve the construction of washing-machines and to provide a simple, inexpensive, and efficient one which will be capable of rubbing clothes and of also squeezing or pounding them in order that either or both operations may be employed in washing, according to the nature and condition of the fabrics to be washed.

The invention consists in the construction and novel combination and arrangement of parts, as hereinafter fullydescribed, illustrated in the drawings, and pointed out in the claims hereto appended.

In the drawings, Figure l is a longitudinal sectional view of a washing machine constructed in accordance with this invention. Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view illustrating another construction of body.

Like numerals of reference designate corresponding parts in the several figures of the drawings.

1 designates a washing-machine body constructed of any suitable material and pro vided with an inner curved rubbing-surface 2, which is adapted to cooperate with an oscillating rubber and pounder 3. The washing-machine body 1, which is supported by legs 4, may be semicylindrical and have the curved rubbing-surface arranged directly on its bottom; but, as illustrated in Fig. 3 of the accompanying drawings, the legs may be dispensed with and a substantially rectangular body 5 may be employed.

The rubbing-surface 2 of the washinganachine body 1 is composed of a series of transverse slats secured to the upper edges of 1011- gitudinal bottom strips 2 and arranged at intervals. The longitudinal bottom strips 2, which are curved to conform to the configuration of the curved bottom of the body 1, are arranged on the said bottom and fit against the inner faces of the sides of the body. By

this construction spaces are formed between the slats, and an intervening space between the slats and the bottom of the body is provided.

The rectangular washing-machine body 5, which is provided with a rubbing-surface 2, is designed to be placed upon a stove or other heating apparatus for raising the water to the proper temperature for washing, and the rub bingsurface 2 which is constructed similar to that before described, consists of a series of transverse slats aranged at intervals and supported by longitudinal strips or bottom pieces 2 The longitudinal strips or bottom pieces 2 are secured upon a curved partition or false bottom 6.

The oscillating rubber and pounder is provided with a lower curved rubbing-face and is substantially semicylindrical. It is provided at opposite sides with upwardly-extending arms 7, to the other ends of which is secured a transverse handle bar or red 8, and it is provided with journals 9, which are arranged in vertical ways of the sides of the washing-machine body. The rubbing-surface of the combined rubber and pounder is preferably formed by spaced slats which provide openings for the passage of water during the operation of the washing-machine.

The openings formed by the transverse slats and the supporting-strips permit water to pass through them during the operation ofwashing.

The ways 10, which may be of any suitable construction, permit the combined rubber and pounder to be oscillated for the purpose of rubbing clothes or to move upward and downward in order to act as a presser or pounder.

By this construction a double-acting washing-machine is provided, and clothes may be rubbed or squeezed or thoroughly pounded according to the class of fabrics being Washed, and the heaviest and lightest or finest materials may be thoroughly washed without liability of injuring the fabrics.

The journals 9 are formed by a transverse rod 10, which extends across the combined rubber and pounder and which passes through and projects beyond the arms 7. The combined rubber and pounder is reciprocated Ver tically to press or pound clothes by a longitudinal lever 11, disposed substantially horizontally and connected at a point between its ends with the combined rubber and pounder by a substantially Y-shaped frame 12. The rear end or portion of the operatinglever is fulcrumed by a pin 13 between a' pair of ears M, mounted on the back of the Washing-machine body, at the center thereof and projecting rearward therefrom. The pivot 13 is located adjacent to the front edges of the ears and is disposed a short distance from the adjacent end of the lever. The rear portions of the ears are provided with a series of perforations 15, adapted to receive a pin 16, for engaging the upper edge of the rear end of the operating-lever to maintain the same in an inclined position for supporting the rubber and pounder at an elevation.

The Y-shaped frame consists of stems 17 and lower diverging arms 18, which have their terminals disposed vertically and perforated for the reception of the transverse rod 10 and the stems 17 receive the operating-lever and are detachably connected to the same by a pivot-bolt 19, which is removable and which is taken out when it is desired to remove the combined-rubber and pounderfrom the washing-machine body.

The operating-lever, which projects for ward beyond the Washing-machine body, is adapted to be conveniently grasped by the operator to reciprocate the combined rubber and pounder vertically, and the handle-rod 8 enables the same to be readily oscillated to produce a rubbing action on the clothes.

It will be seen that the washing-machine is exceedingly simple and inexpensive in construction, that it is positive in its Washing action, and that it will enable clothes to be rubbed, squeezed, or pounded. It will also be apparent that the combined rubber and pounder may be supported in an elevated position when desired. Furthermore, it will be clear that the washing-machine body may be provided with legs, or it may be substantially rectangular, so as to operate as a boiler and adapt it to be placed upon a stove or other heating apparatus for raising the Water to the proper temperature for washing.

\Vhat I claim is 1. In a washing-machine, the combination of a washing-machine body provided with a curved rubbing-surface at its bottom, an operating-lever fulcrum ed at its rear end on the body, a combined rubber and pounder provided with u pwardly-extendin g arms and having a curved rubbingsurface, a transverse rod passing through the arms, extending beyond the same and having its terminals arranged in vertical Ways of the sides of the body, and a substantially Y-shaped frame composed of divergent arms perforated to receive the said rod, and a stem composed of parallel sides receiving the operating-lever between them and pivoted to the same, substantially as described.

2. In a washing-machine, the combination of a Washing-machine body provided at its bottom with a curved rubbing-surface, and having vertical ways at its sides, the vertically-disposed ears extending from the top of the body at the back thereof and provided at its rear edge with a curved series of perforations, an operating-lever fulcrumed between the ears at the front edges thereof, a pin adapted to be arranged in one of the perforations of the curved series to hold the lever in an elevated position, a combined rubber and pounder having a curved rubbing-surface, and provided with u pwardly-extendin g arms, a transverse rod passing through the said arms and arranged in the said ways, and a substantially Y-shaped frame pivotally connected to the rod and to the operating-lever, substantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two Witnesses.

WILLIAM A. XVALLINGFORD.

W'itnesses:

JAMEs F. GLENN, UNIE GIBsoN. 

